Hot weather can increase the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, particularly for older people and those with complex health needs.
For domiciliary care teams, recognising a change during a home visit can be critical. A person may seem more confused than usual, unusually drowsy, hot to touch or less responsive.
In these moments, care workers need trusted answers quickly. They need confidence that they are taking the right action, consistency in how risks are managed across the service and clear evidence of the decisions made.
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This free poster includes:
- Key signs of heatstroke to look out for
- Immediate steps to take
- When to call 999
- What not to do
- Simple guidance designed for busy care teams
Heatstroke Advice for Domiciliary Care Teams
It is a warm afternoon. A care worker arrives for a scheduled visit and notices the person they support does not seem right. They are confused, unusually drowsy and their skin feels hot and dry.
In that moment, staff need clear guidance they can act on quickly.
This free poster is designed to help domiciliary care teams recognise possible heatstroke, take immediate action and support safer decision-making during hot weather.
Signs to look for include:
- Skin that feels very hot
- Confusion, agitation or unusual behaviour
- Not sweating despite the heat
- Rapid pulse
- Nausea or vomiting
- Slurred speech or difficulty communicating
- Drowsiness, unresponsiveness or loss of consciousness
Not every sign will be present. If something feels wrong and the weather is hot, it should be taken seriously.
Heatstroke vs Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion usually comes first. The person may feel weak, dizzy, sweaty, thirsty or tired. They may still be able to respond and communicate.
Heatstroke is more serious. The person may be confused, very hot to touch, not sweating, deteriorating quickly or losing consciousness.
If there is any uncertainty, treat the situation as urgent and seek medical advice immediately.
What to do Immediately
Call 999 immediately if the person is unconscious, unresponsive, confused, deteriorating quickly or you suspect heatstroke.
While waiting for help:
- Move the person to a cooler place if safe to do so
- Remove excess clothing
- Cool the skin with cool water, especially around the neck, armpits and groin
- Use a fan if available
- Encourage small sips of water only if the person is fully alert and able to swallow safely
- Stay with the person and monitor them closely
Do not delay calling for help while trying to cool the person down.
What not to do
- Do not leave the person alone
- Do not give alcohol or caffeine
- Do not give aspirin or paracetamol to treat heatstroke
- Do not use ice or very cold water directly on the skin
- Do not put the person in a cold bath or shower
- Do not assume they are fine because symptoms appear to improve
Recording What Happened
Accurate records support continuity of care and help managers review what happened afterwards.
Record:
- When symptoms were first noticed
- What symptoms were observed
- The temperature or conditions in the home, where known
- Actions taken and when
- Who was contacted, including family, managers, healthcare professionals or emergency services
- Any changes to the person’s condition
This helps create a clear evidence trail and supports safer follow-up care.
FAQs
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Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Signs can include very hot skin, confusion, unusual behaviour, a rapid pulse, nausea, slurred speech, drowsiness, or loss of consciousness. Some people may stop sweating despite the heat. If something feels wrong during hot weather, take it seriously.
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Heat exhaustion can cause dizziness, sweating, thirst, and tiredness, but the person is usually still able to respond. Heatstroke is more serious and may cause confusion, a very high body temperature, rapid deterioration, or unconsciousness.
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Call 999 immediately if you suspect heatstroke or the person is confused, unresponsive, or deteriorating quickly. While waiting for help, move them somewhere cool, remove excess clothing, cool their skin with water, and stay with them.
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Record when symptoms started, what was observed, actions taken, who was contacted, and any changes in the person’s condition. Clear records support continuity of care and follow-up actions.
Preventing Heatstroke and Heat-Related Illness in Home Care
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Knowing the symptoms of heatstroke can help care workers recognise concerns early and take appropriate action.
Know who is most at risk
Older adults, people with long-term conditions, people taking certain medicines and those who may not recognise or communicate thirst can be more vulnerable.
Support hydration
Encourage regular fluids where appropriate and record concerns if someone is drinking less than usual.
Check the home environment
Every home environment is different. Look for signs that the person may be too hot, including closed windows, limited ventilation, heavy clothing or warm rooms.
Plan ahead during hot weather
Managers should make sure staff know who is most at risk, what signs to look for and how to escalate concerns.
Getting Trusted Guidance in the Moment with Lyra
When a care worker notices a change in someone’s condition during a visit, they often need to make a judgement call quickly.
Is this dehydration? Heat exhaustion? Heatstroke? Does this need escalating immediately?
Lyra provides trusted answers in seconds, helping care teams quickly understand what action may be needed, with human judgement always remaining central.
Powered by the expertise of 100 QCS experts and the collective experience of the QCS community, Lyra delivers trusted answers grounded in QCS content, not the open web. That means less time searching for information and more confidence at the point of care.
Watch a Demo of Lyra Giving Advice in the MomentManaging Heat-related Risks with QCS
Hot weather is not just a seasonal issue. It is one of many situations where care teams need to make the right decision, quickly.
QCS is the operational backbone of adult social care, helping providers build confidence at the point of care, consistency across teams and evidence when scrutiny arrives.
With QCS Compliance Centre and Lyra, teams can access expert-backed answers in seconds, understand what action may be needed and stay on top of changing risks across their service.
Whether it’s managing heat-related risks, responding to safeguarding concerns or preparing for inspection, QCS is part of your team, helping you spend less time chasing compliance and more time acting on what matters.
Thank goodness for QCS.
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